Hotels

Can You Really Get Big Hotel Discounts Via Text Message?

I came across an article about SnapTravel a few weeks ago and decided to check it out. Snap Travel claims to offer big hotel discounts via text or Facebook Messenger. I was skeptical how good the discounts would be compared to a myriad of other booking options, but decided to give it a try for several upcoming trips.

How Does Snap Travel Work?

Enter your destination and dates. Phone number if you want deals via SMS text or click the Messenger button to see the deals in Facebook.

On Messenger you get a message with a preview of some of the best deals and a link to see all. Via text you get a link to the website with all the deals.

How Good Are Snap Travel’s Hotel Discounts?

It depends.

With my limited experience looking in Seattle and the Bay Area they do offer better discounts than sites like Orbitz and Hotels.com. Mostly with non-chain/small chain hotels — properties that might not offer member pricing or AAA discounts — and with room type assigned at check-in.

And inventory is still challenging. For my weekend in Willamette, they couldn’t offer any options closer than Portland, about an hour away.

For a stay in Berkeley at the Hotel Shattuck they were $18 cheaper (for a non assigned room) than the best rate I could get on Hotels.com.

Their discounts at chains like Starwood and Marriott are not always cheaper than the hotel website. Snap Travel was offering lower pricing at the W Seattle than other third party sites but were not as cheap as the AAA Hot Rate or SPG member discount.

I’ll note however, that I rarely, if ever, make reservations at major chains on third party sites since I value the free internet and other benefits that my elite status offer more than a small discount.

I have yet to book with them but am adding them to my list of sites to check when planning trips.

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